The acclaimed Art School at Laguna Gloria offers classes for ages four through adult in painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, photography, sculpture, digital media, and more. Now registering for Spring 2019!

Art School

About

The Art School is located on the fourteen-acre Lake Austin site of historic Laguna Gloria, a natural setting conducive to the creation of art. Our studios have direct access to the out-of-doors, and we encourage you to explore the grounds while working on class projects. Our goal is to foster your creativity, enhance your visual awareness, and improve your technical skills in your chosen medium. Our small classes increase your interactions with our credentialed and talented faculty members.

Having recently celebrated our 50th Anniversary, The Art School continues to strive to maintain the highest standards of educational excellence, offering you the added bonus of experiencing changing exhibitions at two locations.

Museum membership at certain levels gives you tuition discounts, preferential registration, invitations to openings, and other benefits. There are so many ways to enjoy The Art School and our campus at the beautiful Laguna Gloria, so whether you are a beginning student, a serious amateur, or a returning artist, we invite you to enroll.

We have classes for ages four through adult.
Adult Classes: Weekdays, Evenings, and Weekends
Kids' Classes: Saturdays and Sundays, and Week-long Camps in the Summer
Classes in painting, drawing, wheel throwing (pottery), photography, Photoshop, collage, mosaics, watercolor, pastels, jewelry, glass, metal, and more!
Classes start at various dates during the semester and registration is ongoing.

Membership

Beginning with spring registration, we will be offering an Art School membership for Art School students who are currently not members of the museum. This membership is complimentary to anyone who signs up for a class at the Art School and is valid for one year.

Art School membership benefits include free admission to Laguna Gloria and the Jones Center on Congress Avenue, a digital membership card for easy entry, and notices of museum programming via email.

Interested in discounts on Art School classes, access to members-only exhibition openings, and more? Visit us here to become a member at a higher level and enjoy more benefits.

Volunteering & Internships

The Contemporary Austin Art School accepts applications year round from volunteers ages 13 and up to assist in all classes with a particular emphasis on children’s classes. The Art School seeks volunteers who:
Enjoy working with children—experience is preferred, but not required
Enjoy art! Again, an arts background is a plus, but not necessary
Willingness to make a commitment to attend all classes, arriving 15 minutes early to help with setup and staying 15 minutes late to help with cleanup
If these attributes resonate with you, please follow the links below to our application forms.

If the Art School has a volunteer opportunity that suits your stated availability and experience level we will contact you to confirm schedules. Thank you for volunteering!

Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Students and families demonstrating financial need are eligible to apply for scholarships to the Art School. We award up to two scholarships per year per individual and a maximum of two scholarships per semester per household. Download the appropriate application at the link below. For additional assistance or inquiries, please contact the Art School office at 512.323.6380 or email us at artschool@thecontemporaryaustin.org.

Art School scholarships for underserved youth ages 4 through 18 and senior citizens over the age of 65 are supported by a generous $25,000 gift to the Education Fund from the Estate of Maxie G. Templeton. As the largest gift toward the scholarship program in the history of the Art School, this gift from the Templeton Estate will expand access to classes for students in need, planting the seed for lifelong participation in the arts in young learners and enriching the lives of seniors. You, too, can make a difference in the lives of students in need by supporting Art School scholarships—make your gift to the Education Fund today!

Teaching

The Art School is always looking for excellent teachers with exciting new course ideas. We take pride in the high quality of our instruction and the student-centered learning environment offered here at the Art School. Please review our website to become familiar with the subjects we currently offer.

Faculty Requirements:
BA or MFA in studio art, art education, or relevant teaching subject
Minimum of 2 years teaching experience
Teaching certification preferred for children and teen instructors (but relevant experience may be substituted)
Demonstrated expertise in teaching field
High level of quality in personal artwork
High level of personal motivation and dependability
Ability to work independently
Punctuality
Skilled in organizing subject material in incremental steps designed for beginners, or whatever skill level the class encompasse
Ability to nurture, encourage, and support the creativity of children and/or adult students